WRC7732

So I recently hit a pot hole here in ATL in my '05 E320 CDI. In doing so I took out the front right tire, bent the rim, and now I have a clunk when hitting bumps.

The car still seems to ride fine, but there's a definate clunking sound when hitting bumps in the road. It doesn't sound or feel like it's hitting the bump stops and it's difficult to tell exactly where it's coming from. I'm just assuming it's coming from the front right because it wasn't there before (at least not that I recall).

I've put the car on a lift and grabbed and shook the wheel and there doesn't seem to be any play in the assembly.

Does it sound like a busted the front right strut??? I don't want to buy something I don't need, but I definately want to get rid of this annoying clunking sound.

Thanks in advace for all of your advice.

Will

Badfish

I took out a left front tire last week too! A hell of a collision in the dark. Cost me $216 for a replacement tire, but I consider myself lucky not to bend the rim or end up with a compromised suspension, at least so far.

Good luck.

WRC7732

Yeah, I thought it was just a tire, and then the tire shop showed me the bend in the rim, and then I noticed the clunking noise. I couldn't believe it. It was raining when I hit it and the hole was full of water and just looked like a wet spot in the road. Turned out there was a massive pot hole in the middle of that wet spot.

Ser05E500

I had that same issue..its probably your ball joint thats bad or bushing

WRC7732

Any ideas how I diagnose that????

WRC7732

Turned out to be a outer tie rod end. Par ton order now. Hopign to have it by the weekend. Fingers crossed. Going to change out to my new wheels when I et it also. Just picked them up last night. I'll post pics after. As well as get a new pic for my Sig, as that front plate is killing me.

AMGE55K

I lost two wheels once on the same road, sucks. Feel for you.

vettdvr

In some states if the road is damaged and it has been reported you can file a claim with them for damage. But given today's economic times you have probably as much chance as a match in a hurricane.

mcleantmw

The 18" long pothole I hit in January on the Washington Dulles Airport Toll Road ruined both right Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tires and bent both of my alloys. Since I had road hazard coverage on the Michelins bought last July, they were replaced at no cost but I had to replace both alloys. I submitted a claim for the wheels to the Airports Authority which owns the toll road and their insurance company rejected my claim saying their investigation indicates that the Airports Authority repaired the pothole in a reasonable period of time considering the weather freeze conditions. So, I submitted a follow up claim indicating that this pothole was a safety hazard that should have been marked with road cones to divert traffic around it until the pothole was repaired. If the pothole had caused an accident, I'm sure the Airports Authority would have been found responsible so I feel they should honor my claim. I may go the Virginia Small Claims Court route if they reject my claim again.

WRC7732

Well the tie rod was definately shot, but it hasn't fixed my problem. I still have a damn clunk...!!!...I've been all over the underneath of the car and even checked everything in my trunk to make sure I put the spare and jack back in right. What the heck..!!....

So here's what I've come up with so far. I used a speed bump to try and narrow it down. If I hit the speed bumps straight on (both wheels at the same time) then there is no clunk. If I hit the speed bumps at any kind of angle then it clunks. It seems to only clunk when there is twist applied.

Does this sound Sway bar related?? Anyone have any other ideas. The clunk is driving me crazy and I'd really like to make it go away.

LILBENZ230

Atlanta roads are terrible, I hear you. Oddly, I have the clunk, too on my C230. Same thing happens when it comes to a speed bump. No noise unless I go at an angle. I was told that it was the sway-bar end links, and not an emergency so I haven't replaced them yet.

Taylor-Made'90

Take my advice buddies..... If you're ever in Jackson Mississippi DRIVE SLOW!!!! The city streets are treacherous (due to the shifting soil - Yazoo clay).

I hit a pothole on State St (the main north-south strip) and cracked the inner lip on my front passenger rim...

Local Benz dealer (Higginbotham) said it couldn't be repaired, tried to sell me a new rim....

Local rim/tire shop said they could 're-machine' it for $150. The crack was less than a 1/2 inch...

I went to AutoZone, the sales guy there told me about some super-adhesize epoxy that he used on his cracked wheel. $6 bucks. Took the tire off the rim and cleaned the spot where the crack was. Mixed the epoxy and smeared it over the crack. Allowed to 'set' for 24 hours. Mounted the tire and it held pressure...

And it's been holding ever since...


This was back in August...

Yuille36

Have you considered that your strut or shock could be bad? I would have said check your ball joints, but that was mentioned earlier. It has something to do with your suspension obviously. Tie rods, steering linkage, ball joints, struts i would check everything. But you already know this.......

E92-Lighting

i hate LA roads